Fuel-feeding system



. Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

manna scowcnor'r, an, or comm, nun.

FUEL-FEEDER SYSTEM.

Application Med January To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hanan Scowonorr, Jr., a citizen of the United States of Americe, and a resident of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Feeding Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to liquidfuel feeding ystems adapted especially 'for use in connection with internal combustion engines and utilizes a reserve fuel or gasoline tank located between the main supply tank and the vacuum feed tank.

The invention contemplates the use of a reserve tank as a part of the fuel feeding system. .which tank is filled and remains normally filled while the gasoline is being fed through the system from the main supply tank to the vacuum tank. By the use of manually operated means the supply of gasoline in the reserve tank becomes available for feeding to the vacuum tank when the supply in the main tank is exhausted.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements, of parts as will hereinafter be more specifically pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged in accordance with one mode for the practical application of the principles of my invenpipe 2. The feed pipe is connected as an inst pipe to the reserve supply tank 3 and the reserve tank is connected by its outlet feed pipe 4 to the well known form of vacuum tank 5. The carbureter 6 is connectedby pi 7 to the vacuum tank,' and pipe 8pfrom-t e vacuum tank is extended to the intake manifold of the internal com 2a, 1925. Serial No. 4,209.

the fuel feeding system is to be em 10 ed. As in the vacuum feed type of fuel ee ing systems for internal combustion engines, the

' bustion engine or other device with which operation of the pistons in the engine or mo-- 'tor tends to create in the tank 5 a vacuum and also in the reserve tank 3.

The reserve tank is of suitable capacity-'.,

and may contain say onegallon of gasoline. The interior of the tank is entirely sealed from the atmosphere and its flangedtop is secured as by screws 10 passing through a cork gasket 11 into the interior attaching ring 12 of the tank. I

The feed pipe or inlet pipe 2 from the main tank 1 to the reserve tank extends" through a sealed opening in the flanged top 9, and the main branch 13 ofthis pipe 0 ens to the interiorof the reserve tank to fill the same with gasoline.

-Within the reserve tank is a stand pi e 14 having a closed bottom end slightly e evated above the bottom of the reserve tank,

and the top of the standpipe is also closed andsealed as by a cap plate 15 and screws 16 on the top 9. This standpipe is filled with gasoline through the branch'pipe 17 of the feed pipe 2 within the reserve tank.

The outlet pipe 4 from the reserve tank extends through the cap plate 15 and terminates near the bottom of the standpipe. It will be apparent that as the reserve tank is filled with gasoline from the pipe 2 the standpipe 14 is also filled and under normal conditions both the reserve tank and stand pipe are filled with gasoline which is drawn by suction from the main tank through pi e.

2, stand pi e 14 and feed pipe 4 to the vacuum tan 5.

The level of gasoline in the 'reservetank and in the standpipe is equalized by means of holes 18 in the upper end of the standpipe.

As long as a supply of gasoline is mamtamed in the stan pipe the liquid is fed therefrom by way of pipe 4 to the vacuum tank. When the main tank and standpipe have been emptied the supply in. the reserve tank is made available for use by transferring the contents of the reserve tank to the standpi for withdrawal therefrom.

Itwi 1 be understood that the suction created by operation of the engine tends to crek ate a vacuum, in the space at the upper end of the reserve tank not occupied b gasoline. By opening the upper part of t e reserve tank to the atmosp ere an is admitted thereto for pressure on the contained gasoline to transfer the gasoline from the reserve tank to the standpipe.

For this purpose I utilize an air valve 19 having a casing 20 in the top 9 of the reserve tank, which valve is manually controlled from the dash board or instrument board of an automobile through a wire connection or rod 21 and bell crank lever 22, the latter pivoted at 23 on the valve casing.

The air control valve is connected with a gasoline control valve 24 in the casing 25 located in the bottom of the reserve tank and adapted to admit gasoline through a pipe 26 to the lower end of the stand pipe.

The valve 2st is pivoted in its casing and has a flexible connection or wire 27 to the air valve. A spring 28 is interposed between the lower end of the valve casing 20 and a washer 29 fixed on the wire connection 27 and the spring holds the air valve 19 and gasoline valve 24 closed while the fuel feeding system is operating under normal conditions.

Should the gasoline supply from the main tank become exhausted and the supply from the standpipe be consumed, a partial vacuum is formed in the standpipe. Then by a pull on the wire 21 the automobile operator can open the air valve to admit atmospheric pressure to the reserve tank and open gasoline valve 24. The air pressure and fluid pressure in the reserve tank now force the gasoline f1 om the reserve tank into the standpipe to again furnish a fuel supply to the outlet pipe 4.

The valves 19 and 24 remain open as long as the reserve supply is being used. After again filling the main tank these valves should'be closed and the suction from the engine when operated will fill the fuel feeding system as usual. Should the motorist forget to close the valves 19 and 24 after filling the main tank the engine when operated will draw fuel from the reserve tank until the latter is emptied and the supply will again be cut ofi because of the fact that the air valve is open. This is an indication to the motorist that his valves 19 and 24 are still open and must be closed before fuel can again be drawn from the main supply tank,

through the reserve tank, to the vacuum tank. After this warning the valves 19 and 24 should be closed and the engine starter operated with the accelerator closed and the carbureter on full choke until the engine operates. The reserve tank is now in position for the next emer ency.

Having thus ful y described my invention what- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fuel feeding system a reserve tank and a standpipe therein, an inlet feed pipe normally adapted to fill both tank and stand pipe simultaneously, an outlet feed pipe communicating with the standpipe, fuel control means for normally closing communication between said tank and standpipe, vent means for normally closing said tank against atmospheric pressure, and means for opening said tank to the atmospheiesaid fuel control means and vent means being so constructed that movement of one means produces a corresponding movement of the other means.

2. In a fuel feeding system the combination of a reserve tank having a stand pipe therein, an inlet feed pipe normally adapted to fill both tank and standpipe simultaneously, an outlet pipe communicating with the standpipe, a normally closed gasoline valve controlling communication between the tank and standpipe, a normally closed vent valve in the tank, operative connections between said valves for causing'simultaneous movement thereof and means for opening the latter valve.

3. In a fuel feeding system, the combination with a reserve tank and standpipe there- 1n having air passages in its up er portion communicating with the tank, 0 a gasoline valve closing communication between the tank and standpipe, a'valve closing the tank against atmospheric pressure, means for normally holding said valves in'closed position, and means for opening the latter valve, said valves being so connected that movement of one valve produces a corresponding movement of the other valve.

4. In a fuel feeding system the combination with a reserve tank and standpipe therein having air passages in its upper portion communicating, with the tank, of a normally closed gasoline valve closing communication between the tank and stand pipe, a normally closed air valve in the tank, operative connections between said valves and a spring for normally holding said valves in closed position, and manually operated means for openlng said valves.

HEBER SCOWCROFT, R. 

